Essential Guide to Picnic Photoshoot: 10 Preparation props | 15 Photo Ideas

A picnic photoshoot is the best way to capture aesthetically pleasing summer and fall pictures. Picnic photos are perfect for friends, family, couples, and large groups. 

There are tips, props, and various aspects you need to consider for a perfect picnic photoshoot. Keep reading for more information as well as props, food, and creative ideas to get you started.

How to Pick the Site for Your Picnic Photoshoot

Some of the features to consider when picking your picnic location include:

●  Background

For that dreamy vibe for your picnic photoshoot, you need to include the open skies with all their different blue hues that make your photo more fun. The perfect background will be near a water body and should also be easy to draw more attention to your picnic; you might as well do it at the park.

● The general vibe

When packing for the picnic photo shoot, you should be guided by the concept or vibe in mind or a photographic objective. For example, to pull off a romantic vibe you can go with flowers such as roses, an outfit that has the same vibe like a cute dress, and a background that won't distract attention from the set. But for a fun vibe, bright colors would do better, for instance, you can use yellow flowers among other accessories.

Photo by Joeyy Lee on Unsplash

● Your choice of colors

A good color scheme is an essential part of a great picnic shot. Avoid too many bright colors as they tend to draw attention from the picnic set. Stick to three main shades that can blend well with each other. For example, you can use white, green, and tan with red accents; your attire should also fall under the three colors to avoid too much detail in your picture.

10 Must-have Props for Picnic Photoshoot

1. Picnic basket

Picnic baskets are very convenient and can be decorated uniquely to blend well with the mood and season. Baskets with unique and stunning interiors are the best option as they can be displayed prominently. The number of table settings for the baskets depends on the number of people at the picnic.

2. Candles

Pillar candles are perfectly designed for lanterns because of their size. Select the flameless LED version if you want them to last long or choose a wax one for a more conventional appearance.

3. Picnic blankets

Photo by Evangelina Silina on Unsplash

Picnic blankets are ideal for photographing during picnics since they provide extra comfort and clean up the setup. In addition, it accurately describes the exact location of the picnic and adds more color to the surrounding environment, making it very easy to take nice shots. They also are made from water-resistant materials to repel moisture and are available in different colors, textures, and prints.

4. Straw hat

For picnic photos, hats are a necessary addition and definitely a good photo prop. If you shoot them from the back, they automatically add drama to the pictures. Hats also come in handy in case of a bad hair day. With hats, there is less discomfort from the wind, they give warmth on a cold day and protect the skin on a sunny day.

5. Blankets with chunky knit

Chunky knit blankets are some of the best to take photos with. They are heavily textured and are sure to immediately attract admiration due to their exquisite weave design. They are a good set-up addition for your picnic photo shoot as they also add an element of fun to your photos.

6. Pillow with Texture

Pillows with a mix of textures are a great way to integrate a little visual interest and make the picnic setting as comfortable as possible. Select one cohesive look or mix multiple surfaces such as faux fur.

7. Vintage camera

A photo of someone taking a photo always grabs attention. These vintage cameras come in the perfect pastel hues fit for dreamy summer and spring picnic shots. Not only do they look fabulous in the shots, but they also feature instant cameras. They also come in handy when composing a photo collage or when you are looking to add a retro flair to your photographs.

8. Serving Tray

Photo by Deval Parikh on Unsplash

If you require lots of food for your picnic photoshoot, then a serving tray will be necessary. Choose the right style that blends well with your set-up to make showcasing food much easier.

9. Bamboo bag

Bamboo bags are great for picnic pictures especially when poses are a challenge to you and you need to keep your hands busy. They could also be loaded with makeup, a brush, or any kind of shoot equipment which are needed to stay on hand. These bamboo bags are perfect for spring and summertime picnic shots.

10. Mugs or wine glasses

If you plan on having a cup of tea or coffee during your picnic shoot, then mugs are a good prop to include in your photoshoot. Aesthetically pleasing wine glasses are classy and elegant and pride an ideal photo opportunity, since you can hold and involve them in your picnic shots.

How to Choose the Food for Your Picnic Pictures

Tips

✔  Choose foods that are easily portable and not too messy.

✔  The food should also be practical because you will eat it after taking your picnic photos.

✔  Select food that coordinates well with your theme, and set up for a pretty picnic photo session.

✔  You can order takeaway food if the shoot is to extend for a while.

Photo by Jojo Yuen (sharemyfoodd) on Unsplash

Recommendations

• Infused water or cold tea
• Wine bottle
• Fruits of your choice, which might consist of strawberries, grapes, and watermelon.
• Cheese or crackers
• loaf of bread
• Pizza
• Biscuits
• Cold cuts like ham.

15 Photo Ideas and Tips for Fancy Picnic Pictures

1. Do matching outfits

This is a concept that can transcend between couples, friends, and even families. The theme chosen for the outfit is totally up to the subjects, and you can go for color coordination or matching outfits. The best idea would be to go for what everyone feels comfortable with.

2. Focus on the details

Ensure you catch as many details as possible in your picnic photos as this will help you capture the attention of your audience. You may take beautiful pictures of the variety of foods, accessories, and surroundings. Taking lots of close-up shots can also help you make a much more interesting story about the subject or the couple.

3. Picnic photoshoot during golden hour

Photo by Natali Hordiiuk on Unsplash

The golden hour, which usually happens just after sunrise and right before sunset is usually considered the perfect time of day for picnic shots. You can use different techniques in golden hour photography to take photographs with soft shadows and diffused light. This time is ideal for taking portrait pictures with warm and lovely tones. The golden hour, however,  will vary from place to place and season to season. Use a dedicated app such as Photographer's Ephemeris or Helios Golden Hour for Apple to ensure that you get it right.

4. Make an engaging session for a picnic.

Capturing those memorable moments during an engagement session is another creative and fun idea for your picnic photoshoot. It is very easy to set up a romantic mood while maintaining everything natural during a picnic. What’s even better, you will be able to use your photography skills to document someone's proposal story. The couple should enjoy the food packed for the picnic before you conduct the engagement photo session. You can end the photo session with the couple toasting champagne.

5. Snap Pics of the Group Picnic

Shoot several group shots. Whether a couple or a large group, get various poses with every person taking part in the shots. Group pictures convey, intimacy, connection, and companionship of the people in the group.

Photo by Boston Public Library on Unsplash

6. Flower field picnic idea

You can also try to experiment with the various locations while taking picnic pictures. The thing is, in a shot, you can reveal a strong connection among the people as well as capture the unique atmosphere of a specific location. For instance, you can use a flower field as a fantastic background to capture shots perfect for Mother’s Day.

7. Pick a Picnic Color Scheme Based on the Season

Capture the summer or fall mood by ensuring that your color schemes are consistent when shooting photos during a specific season. If you are shooting during the summer, for example, consider focusing on purple, cream, and pink shades in your photos. On the other hand, bring that color scheme up a notch to a richer one with warm orange, red, and brown hues if you are going to shoot during the fall. You can choose the right dress code and props to use for your shoot using the picnic photoshoot idea.

8. Taking wine

There is no greater pleasure than sipping fine wine. A picture can be made romantic by simply including a bottle of wine in the frame. Moreover, it will help relax self-conscious people; they can pour the wine and hold the glasses.

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash

9. Take family photos

For a family picnic photo shoot, you need to make the shots appear natural, and you can include board games and toys to add an element of fun to the photos. All you have to do is ensure that you understand just how comfortable all the family members are with this type of setup. In this case, chatting with them will set a relaxed mood and they can play games, play with pet animals, and have some food. The best time to take those intimate shots is really when they're relaxed not focused on you.

10. Incorporate pets

Ask the couple to bring their pets with them as they will add cuteness to any of your picnic photographs. It might be quite hard to get a good shot of dogs and cats, but eventually, they will settle down and concentrate on their owners. Incorporating pets is guaranteed to enhance those lovely memories of family or sibling photos. Some pet owners would also like to include their pets in their engagement photos. Once a pet gets accustomed, it will stop paying close attention to you and you can take your shots in peace.

11. Lay on your belly

You can ask the model to lie on her stomach and have her legs raised behind her. The model is free to assume any relaxed pose like touching her face with her palms. You can also ask your model to hold a book or place it in the frame for a better and more appealing shot. It will allow you to catch an easy shot of someone enjoying themselves on a stunning sunny day.

12. Beach picnic idea

Ensure that the participants of your shoot are conversant with any nearby beaches as they are ideal for stunning picnic photos. You can go for tropical fruits or pillows as your props for a perfect background. For more creative ideas, you can consider having a sizeable picnic table as it can be very convenient for your shoot. Take amazing photos of the couple having fun on their weekend and keep your view wide to include the beautiful background.

13. Lay down on the picnic blanket

Photo by Joeyy Lee on Unsplash

To have this done, direct your models to lay on the picnic blanket. They can do anything that will help them feel more relaxed; they may talk about the surroundings, admire the beautiful flowers, and look at the sky, amongst others, To avoid hard shadows on the models' faces, it is best to take pictures in a shaded area and be sure to capture the background.

14. Picnic photoshoot enjoying food

If you love taking pictures of food, you can always have different dishes at the setting to add more flavor to your picnic photos. This idea can be very helpful for those who like refreshingly candid photos. You can also use this concept if you want to take candid shots without compelling your subjects to pose. This idea is mostly beneficial to photographers who specialize in couple photo shoots, as your models can feed each other. Same way, you can also take lovely shots of happy people who enjoy each other’s company.

15. Overhead angle idea

Have the couple or friends lie on the picnic blanket, facing each other but apart from each other. Either one of them could be looking at the photographer or just exchanging glances. and both could be having eye contact with each other. Generally, for this idea, do not make your models look in different directions when doing the picnic shoot unless you are trying to give a lonely impression.

Conclusion

Taking pictures of picnics is really fun and a no-brainer with the right tips. Regarding the site for a picnic shot, you need to consider its location, colors, and general vibe. When it comes to props, keep it simple for a great shot; there are many different food ideas you can go for. I hope you have tons of fun trying out the above picnic photoshoot ideas.

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